Rhinebeck Haul
But first, the Rinebeck sweater that wasn’t.
This is what the sweater looked like last Wednesday evening. Then, it was an almost complete sweater.
It would have been completely possible to finish the hem, the sleeves, neck, and add a zipper by Saturday, a lot of work, but still possible. But then I realized I wouldn’t have a chance to get the zipper by Saturday.
I know I could have finished the sweater, and closed it with a shawl pin for the day, but then the waist was a bit wonky, and I probably should have ended the decreases a few rounds earlier, and it ended up kind of longer than expected, and if I wasn’t pushing to finish the sweater for Saturday, then well…
If you look carefully at the photo, you’ll see there are no needles in the sweater.
Now, it looks exactly like it did two weeks ago.
At least it’s a quick knit, and it could have been worse. A lot worse. (See, if you haven’t already Yarn Harlot-Rhinebeck sweater, and Carin of Round the Twist-Rhinebeck sweater. You might want to sit down.)
So the sweater is sitting in the corner for a bit, and new yarn/fiber is making me feel a bit better about the whole thing.
So, the first thing I bought was this beautiful skein from Bittersweet Woolery. Her shop seems to be on vacation at the moment, but if you go through the sold items there’s some great stuff (personally, I’m a fan of the first item ‘sterling’ in lace weight.) The first skein I got was a lace weight (big surprise there), 875 yards, 80/20 merino/silk, color name ‘ghost violet.’ I spend most of the day petting it, and I actually went back at the end of the day for a second skein from her.
Again lace weight, 875 yards, 80/20 merino/silk, this time in the color ‘black dragonfly.’ (I really need to stop buying this shade of blue, I’ve now got three skeins that are all basically this same color, all in varying lace weights.)
These two skeins were the only ones I bought. I figure with all of the yarn I have, and the very limited amount of knitting time, I probably shouldn’t go crazy with the yarn buying any time soon.
I actually went to Rhinebeck with two things in mind. A set of light weight, metal, small stitch markers that would work well for lace weight yarn, and fiber because I had none.
Yes, that’s correct, before this weekend I had no fiber stash. I had a couple bits of random fibers (less than an ounce type stuff), and I had a small fleece sitting in time out until I decide what to do with it, but that was all. So new three bumps of fiber came home with me.
First up, this is one of the stitch markers. The tag only has ‘Jewelry for your Yarn’ which I couldn’t find a website for with a quick google search, but I’m really happy with them. They’re about a centimeter in diameter, very light weight which is exactly what I was looking for, and they each have a different colored bead.
For the fiber, first up I got this beautiful stuff.
It’s 4oz of superwash merino from West Elm Farm, in a very deep blue, I can’t wait to start playing with it.
This braid of fiber (both pictures are the same braid, but different sides) came from Happy Hands Yarns. It’s 4 oz of polwarth in the colorway ‘Landslide.’ I’ve never spun polwarth before, so I’ll be interested in seeing how it differs from merino and merino/silk blends, which are what I have the most experience with.
And finally I got these 4 oz from the vender across the aisle from the Sanguine Gryphon’s booth (which had quieted down by the time I got there, but was still packed).
It’s from Biltmore Wool Barn (which doesn’t seem to have a website, but if you google them, they seem to come up on a handful of other sites), again it’s 4 oz of superwash merino. I (obviously) couldn’t wait to start spinning it, and it’s coming out beautifully, so soft and squishy.
All in all, I think I was rather restrained. 2 skeins of yarn, 3 bumps of fiber, and a set of stitch markers, I’m sure I could have done a lot more damage.
I’m still working on the Namaste-Hermosa review which I hope to get up soon-ish, and I’m still trying to make knitting progress, which I’ll post about soon (hopefully).
Stocking Up
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this on the blog yet (though at this point I’m quite sure what I have/haven’t told anyone so don’t feel left out), but I’m moving on Saturday.
And then again on Wednesday.
Basically, I’m headed back up to school with a pit stop at my parents for a few days of sleep, laundry and repacking.
But all of this moving and packing and repacking and leaving, is giving me the feeling like I need to hoard things. Things like yarn and knitting projects of course. But also things like ideas and feelings and possibilities, mostly in the form of sketches and charts and swatches. I sort of feel like I’m stock piling these ideas and this yarn for later. For a time when I’m out of yarn (ha!), or out of ideas, or both.
Whatever the motivation, these feelings have led to yarn buying, and yarn swatching. And we all know that yarn obtaining, means a post with lots of pictures, and who doesn’t love that. So, onwards to pictures and yarn!
Piles of washed and blocking swatches. I always get a warm, fuzzy feeling when I see a pile of swatches (or any pile of knitting really). There’s something about a large quantity of knitting all in one place that somehow simply makes my day better.
One skein of Madelintosh Prairie in the colorway Chamomile. This skein is 840 yards of a heavy single ply lace weight, and is destined to become something bright and cheerful in the middle of December or February, when everything is grey and drab, and knitting a lacy little thing in bright yellow will feel fantastic.
Two skeins of Cascade Heritage Silk, in black and an electric blue to be knit into mittens. A second sample of the not quite argyle mittens. Speaking of the not quite argyle mittens.
They’re done!
(they’ll get their own post once I wash them and weave in the ends, but they are done)
Part of a skein of Wollmeise Lace-Garn, won (awhile ago) in a blog giveaway from Wendy Knits. I’ve never used or even seen Wollmeise before and I’m super excited to get the chance to work with it. I’ve got about 500 yards that will become a shawl/wrap of some sort. This swatch was worked on a US 5 (3.75mm) needle, but I’ll probably go down to a US 4 (3.5mm) or even a 3 (3.25mm) for the actual piece.
Another ball of new to me yarn that I’ve been eying for a month or so, and finally picked up. It’s from Alisha Goes Around, in the Riches (of Martens) Fingering base. I don’t know the colorway, but it’s stunning shades of purple, and I simply can’t wait to work with it.
Three skeins (one is hidden under the swatches) of Madelinetosh DK in the colorway hearth, that is destined to become a large cushy, comfy, not quite lace, sort of circular shawl, perfect for fall.
Some beautiful yarn that will be worked up into a pair of cushy, warm fair isle mittens. I don’t have the name or colors of the yarn with me (sorry!).
And finally a small sweaters worth of Cascade Greenland. It’ll become a simple stockinette, top down, hip length, short sleeved sweater, with skinny white stripes starting at the waist and finishing at the hem. Finished off with an i-cord cast on around the neck, and ether i-cord or a hem around the sleeves, and a need finished hem. Closed with a large metal statement of a zipper.
I’m also making good progress on my sanity keeping garter stitch shawl, and I’ll try to get those mittens washed, blocked and posted this weekend (can’t promise though). Either way I think that’s enough for this morning. Until next time.
Tumbling Deco
Ta-Da! Tumbling Deco is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
Stacks of blocks tumbling down. Falling from and back into little fields of mesh, leaving simple serenity in their wake.
Referential of the art deco movement, this shawl is knit all in one piece from the top down. It begins by casting on 11 stitches at the back of the neck and continues down, increasing eight stitches every other row to create a crescent that drapes beautifully across the back of the neck and flows over the shoulders. Just before the bind off and eyelet-increase row is worked to ensure that a thorough blocking is possible.
Yarn: Madelinetosh ‘tosh lace,’ 950 yards (968 meters), 100% superwash merino, 1 skein, shown in ‘robins egg’
Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) 40 inch (101 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, 1 coiless safety pin or row marker
Gauge: 6.5 sts/inch; 10 rows/inch (6.5 sts/2.5 cm; 10 rows/2.5 cm) in washed and blocked stockinette
Blocked Dimensions: 18.5 inches (47 cm) down the center back
Skills Used: reading charts, casting on, binding off, knitting, purling, slipping stitches, yarn over, k2tog, ssk, k3tog, k3togtbl, k2togtbl, sl 1-k2tog-psso, weaving in ends, blocking lace
This pattern is only charted. However, written directions may become available at a future date.
